About Face is an exhibition of portraits from the collection of the Durban Art Gallery which is running until the end of January 2007.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines portraiture as a ‘representation or delineation of a person, especially of the face, made from life, by drawing, painting, photography, engraving etc.: a likeness’.

The idea of the portrait is not just a ‘representation’ or a ‘likeness’ but rather incorporates the much wider yet intangible concept of identity which can describe a wide variety of characteristics about the sitter such as social standing, personality, gender, age and character among other qualities.

The work on display in About Face reflects a wide range of artistic approaches or fashions, techniques and media on the one hand and, on the other, pockets of ‘peculiarities’ have been selected to expand on a particular ‘stereotype.

The Durban Art Gallery is situated on the second floor of the Durban City Hall. More information on 031 311 2264.